One of the highest-ranking sports globally, in popularity, is undeniably football. It is thus hardly surprising that the best football players are ranked among the wealthiest people in the world. Being a successful ballplayer takes more than a pair of good legs – it takes good investment choices, too. There is a plethora of avenues available to build their wealth – like real estate, commercial endorsements, business venture or even image rights, to name a few. Here is a list of the wealthiest on the field, ranked in order of their net worth. Many names are familiar, but some might come as a surprise! The richest league is The Premier League, but just two footballers from the league make it on the list. And no, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo is number one!

#10: Pelé, Retired from New York Cosmos – $100 Million

Pelé, the sensational Brazilian footballer who retired in 1977, has earned a number of prestigious accolades in his time on the field. In 1999, he was named ‘Football Player of the Century’ by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics; he was also named ‘Athlete of the Century’ in that year, by The International Olympic Committee. Pelé scored 1281 in 1363 matches. He came out of semi-retirement and signed with New York Cosmos, in 1975.  He might be out of the game for a long time, but his money in the bank is still $100 million.